Berkowitz challenges Keyes on the socialist comment, the transcript follows:
Berkowitz: Let me, let me play devil?s advocate here because I think Barack [Obama, Democratic U. S. Senate candidate] has been on this show [over the years] about eight times, so I think I know reasonably well what he thinks, and he would say he cares about, certainly, improving the quality of education; he cares about jobs, and he understands that it is important– that it is important to have a quality education in order to have jobs here in Illinois. In that, he would say he agrees with you. He differs with you on the methods to maintain jobs.
[KEYES CALLS OBAMA A SOCIALIST]
Keyes: So, I am sure that he [Barack Obama] can easily mouth the words. Cuz, that?s what?
Berkowitz: But, you called him a socialist. Do you stand behind?
Keyes: He is a socialist.
Berkowitz: You, you?
Keyes: Folks like this, even the issue we are talking about?
Berkowitz: [But], he has said on this show that–
Keyes: Even the issue we are talking about. If you look at his stand, his stand says the only way we can get education is with government run, government dominated schools. That is socialism. I say, let?s have schools in which you give parents the choice, which then allows them to both go into a sector where the schools are going to be faith based, parochial schools that are started by private individuals–[or] where they might even be able to get together in their community and start schools for themselves, rather than do it under government domination. That?s the difference between a socialist and someone who really believes not only in free enterprise but in self-government in the community.
Let’s define socialism. From the OED:
A theory or policy of social organization which aims at or advocates the ownership and control of the means of production, capital, land, property, etc., by the community as a whole, and their administration or distribution in the interests of all.
That’s a pretty touch stretch. First, kudos to Jeff for getting him to at least answer the question. Someone else did it recently (perhaps Spike O’Dell) too.
No one claims that Obama wants to have public ownership of the means of production, capital, land or property (well maybe Joyce, but again, no one serious). He wants more or different regulations over business, but that goes to the core of the argument between those who argue over the number of market failures. It’s an entirely reasonable argument to say that he thinks the government can fix too many market failures. It is unreasonable to suggest that he wants to control the means of production. It’s especially silly given Keyes likes to tout his PhD in Political Theory.
Education isn’t a socialized market anyway–it is system that has the public dollars go to public institutions and people can ‘choose’ between them and private schools. Jeff thinks that more individuals should be able to take those public dollars and use them in private schools. I’m in limited agreement, but because someone cannot afford a private school, but has public schools made available is hardly socialist.
Because the CTA exists, we don’t call all transportation in Illinois socialist.